Stability and transitions in school-aged children's physical education need satisfaction profiles: A latent transition analysis

Abstract

This study examined stability and transitions of school-aged children's self-determination theory-based need satisfaction profiles in physical education (PE) over three years. Participants were 1121 (girls 573, boys 548) Finnish school children. The self-report data were assessed using identical procedures from 2017 to 2020. Three latent need satisfaction profiles were identified: Low, Mid, and High need satisfactions. Transitions mainly occurred between grade 5 and 6 in elementary school, after which the profile memberships remained relatively stable. The profile memberships were not school- or PE group dependent over time. These results indicate that school-based actions to achieve a positive impact on need satisfaction development could already be commenced in the early school years, as it may be more challenging to induce positive changes in student behaviours after children have transitioned to middle school.